Washing device for automobiles.



H. T. FORD.

WASHING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1914.

1,096,704, Patented May 12, 1914.

WITNESSES INVE/VTUH 6h Q J foweZ/z TFomZ BY W13. /znwk 6;

A NOR/VHS HOWE'IH '1. FORD, OF CENTRAL VALLEY, NEW YORK.

WASHING DEVIOE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application Med January 15, 1914. Serial No. 312,257.

Patented May 12, 1914.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWETH T. F 031), a. citizen of the United States, and a resident of Central Valley, in the county of Orange I and State of New York, have invented a new and Im rovcd lVashin Device for Automobiles, oi which the fol wing is a full, clear, and exact description- This invention relates to a washingdevice which is in the nature of an attachment for a hose nozzle, and includes means for hold ing a s in vehicle wheels, bodies and the like.

The invention'has for its general objects to improve and simplify the construction of washing devices of the character referred to so as to be reliable and efiicient in use, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, of durable and substantial design and readily manipulated so that it can be adjust d to a position of use or disuse.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a s onge holding device which is so constructs as to be applied as an attachment to a hose nozzle and is capable of being adjusted so that the sponge will be directly in line with the stream of water assing from the nozzle, whereby the sponge holder can be thrown to an inoperative position to one side of the nozzle for permitting the stream from the latter to be played directly on the parts to be washed. Obviously the attachment is especially adapted for washing automobiles, but it can be employed for other cleaning operations.

With such Ob ects in view, and others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts such as will be set forth with particularity in the following description and claims appended hereto.

In the accom anying drawin which illustrate one em odiment of the invention, and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a side view of the spon e holdin attachment applied to a hose nozz c; Fig, is a side view of the holder removed from the nozzle and with the sponge detached; Fig. 3 is a lan view of the s onge clamping means; an Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of one of the prongs, showing the manner of gri ping the sponge.

ferring to the drawing, A designates an ordinary stream or spray nozzle for a nge which may beused for cleanhose B, and to this nozzle is applied the attachment or holder C that clamps a sponge or equlvalent cleaning medium D. The holder C includes a clip 1 which embraces the nozzle A and is fastened in place by a bolt 2 that extends through the ends 3 of the clip. This bolt forms a pivot for a frame which consists of two supporting members 4 winch extend outwardly from the clip 1 and carry a ring 5 which forms the base of the sponge-clamping means. This ring has outwardly-extendin lugs 6 spaced apart around the ring, an in each In is a spongeenga mg ]8.W or prong 7. been prongs are 5 own as connected to lugs 6 by pivots 8, and they may be provided with springs 9 so arranged as to force the prongs inwardly toward each other. The springs resistthe outward movement of the prongs and when the sponge is applied the prongs must be thrown outwardly so as to permit the sponge to be placed between the pointed tips 10 of the prongs, and after the sponge is thus 0- sit-ioned the prongs are released so that t ey can enter the sponge, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

To retain the holder in such position that the sponge B will be directly in line with the axis of the nozzle so as to receive a stream of water therefrom, a chain or equivalent element 11 embraces the 'nozzle A. The end 12 of the chain is fastened to the frame of the attachment by a bolt 13 which extends through the members 4, and the other end 14 of the chain is ada ted to be hooked over the extremity 15 o the bolt.

Thus the chain and bolt cotiperatc to form means for embracing the nozzle, so that the sponge holdin structure cannot swin to t e right or 1e t, Fi 1, as long as the ain is engaged with t e end 15 of the bolt. When it is desired to no longer use the sponge the last link 14 of the chain is unlocked from the extremity 15 of the bolt so that the sponge-holding structure can be swung to t e left, Fig. 1. With a spongeholding device of this character it is to be understood that the user grasps the nozzle of the s onge which forms a handle, whereby the evice is used for cleaning the body, wheels and other parts of the vehicle, the iponge being stably held by the attachment. t is unnecessary for the user to place his hands in water, as is necessary with abucket and spon method of washing.

From 1; e foregoing description taken in menace connection with the accompanying drawings, the adi antages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as areiwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the class described comprising a nozzle-engaging element, a frame,

asponge-grlpping means on the frame, and means for pivotally connecting the frame to the element for permitting the frame to move as a unit for throwingl he sponge into and out of alinement wit the nozzle to which the device is attached.

2. A device pf the class described comprising a nozzle-embracing clip includin a fastening bolt, a frame p votally attached to the clip by the bolt, and spongeholding means carried by the frame;

3. A device of the class described comprising a nozzle-embracing clip including a fastenm bolt-, a frame pivotally attached 'to the clip by the bolt, sponge-holding means carried by the frame, and means on the frame for releasably embracing the nozzle at a point s aced from the bolt. 4a A was ing device comprising an attaching element, a frame pivotally mountthe frame, such embracing means including a bolt, and a flexible element having one end fastened to'the bolt and theother end de-.

tachably connected therewith. I a

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

nown'in a roan.

vWitnesses: Y Y

Wamn M.'Gnnnnsnnnve, Etnn'non ML 0Donnnni.. 

